At the University of Alabama at Birmingham, we believe the pursuit of knowledge does not end at graduation. Marilyn Gossman, PT, PhD, FAPTA, was a physical therapist, educator, researcher, and influential leader who also held this belief. Marilyn joined the newly developed physical therapist educational program at UAB in 1967 and soon took over as chair of the program – a position she held for more than 30 years.
In 1998, Marilyn died of breast cancer; while she had accomplished so much, she had so much more to give. Her legacy lives on today through the hundreds of students and faculty members whose lives she touched. Her UAB family continues her legacy of excellence, education and innovation with the Marilyn R. Gossman Endowed Lectureship.
The Department of Physical Therapy in the School of Health Professions respectfully requests your continued support to provide funding toward the endowed lectureship in memory of Gossman. Each year a renowned therapist, who has made profound contributions to the physical therapy profession, will be selected to give a lecture that is free and open to the public.
The series kicked off in 2014 – the 50th anniversary of the initiation of PT education at UAB. Anthony Delitto, PhD, PT, FAPTA, recognized around the world for his accomplishments and contributions to the PT profession, was the inaugural speaker.
12th Annual Lecture - March 27, 2025
Janet Bezner is professor and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at Texas State University. Her lecture is titled "It’s bigger than any one of us! Leveraging our vision, social responsibility, and health promotion skills to advance societal health and well-being."
🗓️ Thursday, March 27, 2025
⏰ 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
📍 UAB School of Nursing Building (NB), Room 1054
In-Person
You must RSVP to attend in-person.
Zoom
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About Dr. Bezner
Janet Bezner is professor and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at Texas State University. She received a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy at the University of Texas Medical Branch, a master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University, a PhD in health education from the University of Texas, and a DPT degree from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She also is a national board-certified health and wellness coach.
She was vice president of education, governance, and administration at APTA for nine years and served on APTA’s Board of Directors prior to joining its staff. Janet has practiced and held leadership roles in various settings, including hospitals, home health, long-term care, corporate wellness, academia, and non-profit organizations. Her research has resulted in 15 book chapters, over 30 published articles, eight grants, and numerous conference presentations on health and wellness and leadership-related topics.
She is a Lucy Blair Service Award recipient and a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA. Janet maintains an active health and executive coaching practice, and provides strategic planning and thinking consultation.
More Gossman Lecture
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Biography
Marilyn Gossman, PT, PhD, FAPTA, was a physical therapist, educator, researcher, and influential leader in the physical therapy profession. Marilyn received an entry-level masters degree in physical therapy from Case Western Reserve. This was the first entry-level PT masters degree established in the US.
In 1967, she was recruited to join the faculty at the newly developed physical therapist educational program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Not long after that, Marilyn took over as Chair of the program; a position she held for more than 30 years. Soon after, she recruited her friends, and Case Western Reserve alumni, Jo Clelland and Cara Adams, to join the UAB PT faculty. These three young women, with input from notable others, re-vamped the PT educational curriculum and grew it into the current Department of Physical Therapy that will celebrate it's 50th anniversary in 2014.
During Marilyn’s tenure as Chair, the program experienced tremendous growth. In the early 1970s, UAB was among the first to establish a physical therapist assistant educational program and this was at a time when even the concept of using PTAs in clinical practice was controversial.
Shortly thereafter, the program established one of the first post-professional Master's degrees in PT. The post-graduate program provided practicing PTs an opportunity to develop advanced skills in musculoskeletal and pediatric physical therapy as well as offered a track in PT education which provided them advanced skills to teach in academic and clinical settings.
In 1978, the UAB PT program established an entry-level master’s degree when the vast majority of US programs were still awarding bachleors degrees.
Marilyn was always thinking about innovation and ways to propel the physical therapist profession forward. During her time as Chair, UAB became known as a pioneering institution in physical therapy education and it remains that way today.
Marilyn’s influence on PT extends beyond UAB. She was a noted researcher with expertise in muscle physiology and falls prevention. She served on the Board of Directors for the American Physical Therapy Association and was Chair of the Foundation for Physical Therapy. The APTA still honors her each year by holding the Gossman Research Forum at its Combined Section’s Meeting and by holding the Marilyn Gossman Graudate Student Seminar which highlights doctoral students’ research. And in 1996, Marilyn was named Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA.
We lost Marilyn to breast cancer in 1998. A painting was commissioned after Marilyn's death. It is based on a photograph of Marilyn doing one of the things she loved most - sailing. For those that knew Marilyn, the painting symbolizes Marilyn as a great leader at the helm of the UAB PT department which was so dear to her. Faculty members tell incoming students about Marilyn and the impact she had on the quality education they receive today. Help continue Marilyn's legacy of excellence, education and innovation by contributing to the Marilyn R. Gossman Endowed Lectureship.
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Videos
Simply click the title to watch any of these videos.
Introduction to the Marilyn R. Gossman Endowed Lectureship
Thia is a retrospective on Marilyn's life and her work. It explains why we have created the Gossman Endowed Lectureship and why we need your support.
Cara Adams Testimonial
UAB Professor Emeritus Cara Adams, a classmate of Marilyn's who joined her on UAB's faculty in the late 1960s, spoke with us about the impact Marilyn had on her life and the lives of everyone who was fortunate enough to know her.
2023 Gossman Lecture: Elizabeth Dean
"This is what it takes to address societal health and equity. Are Physical Therapists ready?" was the title of the lecture delivered by Elizabeth Dean, PT, PhD, the former president of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy.
2022 Gossman Lecture: Sharon Dunn
"Our Profession in the Next Century: What Makes for Success?" was the title of the lecture delivered by Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD, FAPTA,Immediate Past President of the APTA.
2021 Gossman Lecture: Gregory Hicks
"Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Physical Therapy" was the title of the lecture delivered by Gregory E. Hicks, PT, PhD, FAPTA, a professor of Physical Therapy and Associate Vice President for Clinical and Translational Research at the University of Delaware and founding director of the department’s Advancing Diversity in Physical Therapy program, better known as ADaPT.
2016 Gossman Lecture: Steven Wolf
"The Road Ahead: The view is so much better when you're at the front of the pack" was the title of the lecture delivered by Steven L. Wolf, PT, PhD, FAPTA, professor, Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Department of Medicine and asssociate professor, Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine; senior research scientist, Atlanta VA Medical Center of Excellence in Vision and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation.
2014 Inaugural Gossman Lecture: Anthony Delitto
The series kicked off in 2014 -- the 50th anniversary of the initiation of PT education at UAB. Anthony Delitto, Ph.D., PT, FAPTA, recognized around the world for his accomplishments and contributions to the PT profession, was the inaugural speaker.
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Lecturers
◗ 2024: Rebecca Craik, PT, PhD, FAPTA
◗ 2023: Elizabeth Dean, PT, PhD
◗ 2022: Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD
◗ 2021: Greg Hicks, PT, PhD, FAPTA
◗ 2020: Alan Jette, PT, PhD, FAPTA
◗ 2019: Gail Jensen, PT, PhD, FAPTA
◗ 2018: Richard Shields, PT, PhD, FAPTA
◗ 2017: Shirley Sahrmann, PT, PhD, FAPTA
◗ 2016: Steve Wolf, PT, PhD, FAPTA
◗ 2015: Pamela Duncan, PT, PhD, FAPTA
◗ 2014: Anthony Delitto, PT, PhD, FAPTA
Program Accreditation
Continuing Education programs are not subject to accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).